New Signings for 2021
Head Coach: John Kear
John Kear is probably the most experienced head coach in
this country. His career began at Bramley in 1992 and since then he has held
the position at Paris Saint Germain (1995-96), Sheffield Eagles (1997-99), Huddersfield-Sheffield
Giants (2000), Hull FC (2005-06), Wakefield Trinity (2006-11), Batley Bulldogs
(2011-16) and Bradford Bulls from 2018. And on the international scene he has
also been head coach to France, England, Great Britain and Wales (where he has
led them to qualification for the 2021 World Cup).
Two matches in his coaching career really stand out in
the memory. The first, of course, has to be the shock Challenge Cup win for
Sheffield over Wigan at Wembley in 1998. The most dramatic came in 2006. He
took over at Wakefield who looked completely doomed to relegation but he led
them to four wins in their last 6 matches ending with a shock win over
Castleford in the last match resulting in escape from relegation at the expense
of Castleford.
That was somewhat ironical because John Kear’s entire
playing career was at Castleford, mainly as a winger, from 1978 to 1988.
And, in 2019, he was at it again when his Bradford team
knocked Leeds out of the Challenge Cup.
Captain: Steve Crossley
Steve Crossley took over as Bradford captain in 2019. His first grade career began with hometown club Bradford Bulls in 2010 with 7 off-the-bench appearances. During the following year he played for Dewsbury Rams on dual reg as well as making further appearances for the Bulls. In 2012 he signed for Dewsbury and moved onto Fev for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In 2015 he signed for Castleford but in April transferred back to Bradford. He spent the 2017 season with Toronto and then for 2018 yet again (for the 4th time!) came back to the Bulls. He is an out and out prop forward, every one of his 153 career appearances in the starting line-up having been at prop. Including sub appearances he has played 226 games. He has the remarkable record, especially for a prop forward, of never having been either sin-binned or sent off.
Star Man: Danny
Brough
Thornhill born, Danny Brough, began his career with local club Dewsbury in 2002. During the following season he was transferred to York. Then, in 2005 he moved up to Super League with Hull FC. He was at Castleford in 2007 and in 2008 joined Wakefield. During the 2010 season he moved to Huddersfield and after a long spell there he moved back to Wakefield in 2019. This season he has been signed by Bradford coach, John Kear. It is the third time Kear has done so having also been the coach who took him to Hull and Wakefield.
Danny Brough has played 24 times for
Scotland and twice for England. This brings his career appearances total to 529
.. so far!
Substitute Star Man: Brandon
Pickersgill
Danny Brough was the obvious player to pick as the Bradford ‘Star Man’ but it appears that he is unlikely to play this week having picked up an arm injury in last week’s match.
So we turn to Brandon Pickersgill who is in a very different phase of his career to Danny Brough. The 24 year-old was born in Bradford and is a product of the Bradford Bulls Academy. He made his Bradford début in 2017, although his actual first team début was for London Skolars that year whilst on loan.
By the following year he had established himself as a regular playing principally at full back although he can also play in the half-backs which he might well do on Sunday if Danny Brough can’t play.
He is an elusive runner with the ball and a regular try scorer.
Loans
With the current system of two
week loans it is difficult to find out which players are currently on loan with
a club.
Ashton Golding (well known to Fev fans) is on loan from
Huddersfield as is prop forward Oliver Wilson.
Bradford also have Ellis Robson (prop or second row) from
Warrington and Elliot Wallis (winger) from Hull KR.
On loan from Hull FC, Mitieli Vuliikijapani is a Fijian winger
who has played rugby union for Harlequins and Saracens.
Bradford players, Reece Hamlett and Bradley Ho, are out on loan
with Swinton and Coventry respectively.
The Fev
Connection
There are quite a few notable Fev players from the pre Summer Era who have also played for Bradford. The list includes Steve Evans, Jeff Grayshon, Charlie Stone and Jimmy Thompson.
No comments:
Post a Comment